Picture War Illustrated Vol X
Singapore War Memorial
Newcastle Journal Thursday 23rd August 1917
Medal Index Card for Major Stratton
Newcastle Jounal Saturday 12th May 1917
George Bernard Stratton, the eldest son, was born at New Seaham, Easington, Durham on Tuesday 18th August 1896, the son of the late Thomas Henry Marshall Stratton, a Mining Engineer [born, 1851, Spennymoor, died 29th May 1894], and his wife Kathleen Helen, [born, 1852], daughter of Canon Scott.
George was educated at Warwick School and Durham University. In 1911, he was at Kings School, at Warwick College. George joined the Indian Civil Service in 1899, and moved to the Federated Malay States, [in the Far East] where he held several appointments. Later, he was employed as a planter on the Tebong Estate, Malaysia.
George became a District Officer. On the 28th December 1911, he became Manager of the Telong Rubber Company.
On the outbreak of war, he returned to England, 1st Class, in the Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd ship 'Nankin' ship number 131857, on the 8th March 1915, from Singapore via Yokohama, Japan to London, address given as C/o Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation, London, E6.
February 1915, he re-joined a reserve Berkshire Regiment and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant.
In 1915, he achieved his majority in January 1916, having exchanged into the Duke of Cornwall's Regiment in November 1915. Sent to France on the 20th June 1916.
George married at St Jude's, Southsea on the 10th May 1917, Gladys Dundas, widow of the late Captain Harkness, and daughter of James Frederick Knowles, Birkdale, Lancashire. They had a son George Bernard born 20th January 1918.
George was a Mason in the St George No 1152 Mother Lodge. Singapore. He was excluded from Lodge of St Michael #2933 at the District Grand Lodge Meeting of the Eastern Archipelago, held at the Freemasons Hall, Singapore on the 15th May 1914. Also excluded as a Companion in Chapter He had been the District Grand Pursuivant in 1910.
He was Mentioned In Despatches by General [now Field Marshal] Sir Douglas Haig, [London Gazette, 4th January 1917] for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
George was expected home on leave on the 19th August 1917.
He ws killed in action at Coxyde on Friday 10th August 1917.
In the book A Miners Pals Battalion Captain George Bernard Stratton was 40 years old and had been killed in action between 10th and 11th August 1917.
An officer wrote: 'Major Stratton always showed the keenest interest in the welfare of the men, and his death will be very keenly felt by all. We can but feebly express to you what it means to us—he had been with us so long, and the blow is so much heavier on that account.'
In George's will he left effects of £267 8s 2d to his wife Gladys Stratton widow, then residing at 30 Nightingale Road, Southsea, Hampshire.
Gladys remarried Mr O. Johnson of 17 Nettlecomb Avenue, Southsea, Hants.
Was George married in the Far East as well? as he was father to a Yusuf Henry Bernard Stratton, [born August 16th 1915, at Melaka, Malaysia, died August 30th 1990 in Juasseh, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia], and Uwan Busu Stratton, mother a Fatimah Stratton.
George Bernard Stratton is remembered in Singapore on the War Memorial and the Singapore Cricket Club.
[The memorial can be found on the left hand wall inside Christ Church. Christ Church stands in red Square in Malacca and is an original Dutch Church. The memorial is in the form of a wooden plaque with enclosing doors a Triptych].
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 4 page 200.
History of the Nankin
Roll of Honour
Malacca World War 1 Memorial, Malaysia
Stratton Family Tree
The CWGC entry for Major Stratton
